An unnamed former county coach has been banned from all cricket activity for nine months after admitting five breaches of the game’s professional-conduct rules during 2023 and 2024.
The independent Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) said it was unable to publish the man’s name because of “exceptional circumstances regarding the health of that coach and the serious risk of harm”. He was dismissed by his club in 2024 and has not worked in cricket since.
Key findings
• The coach sent sexually explicit photographs to two junior female colleagues.
• He “engaged in inappropriate and sexualised messaging” with one of the women, pausing only when asked to stop before sending another explicit message a few days later.
• The second colleague—considerably younger and required to interact with him at work—received further explicit images. When she later entered the changing rooms at his request to check for rubbish, he “made an inappropriate attempt to kiss” her.
Although he held no formal position of trust over either victim, the CDP noted “a clear imbalance” between his senior role and theirs. Six months of the suspension are back-dated to the date he was initially charged; the remaining three months are suspended for a year provided he commits no further breaches. The panel accepted his early guilty plea, expressions of remorse, and completion of remedial education as mitigation.
Rehabilitation work
The tribunal heard evidence that the coach has undertaken counselling and educational courses on sexual harassment and professional boundaries, working alongside a former professional sportswoman to understand the effect of unsolicited explicit messages on recipients. The panel reported it “was clear to the Disciplinary Tribunal that the Respondent was a different person to the one who was initially interviewed”.
“He hoped that now he was emerging as a better person,” the report added. “He had a greater understanding of workplace boundaries, the misuse of social media and what amounted to sexual harassment.”
Reaction from the regulator
Chris Haward, managing director of the Cricket Regulator, condemned the misconduct and thanked those who came forward. “Removing sexual misconduct from the game is a priority for the Cricket Regulator,” Haward said. “We recognise that it takes a lot of courage for those impacted to come forward.” He credited the “openness and courage of those who reported” the behaviour for enabling the investigation.
Looking ahead
Under the terms of the ruling, the coach must demonstrate ongoing compliance with treatment programmes and have no further incidents for at least 12 months. If he satisfies those conditions, the final three months of the ban will remain suspended. Any breach would see the remainder imposed immediately, with the option of stiffer penalties.
The CDP stressed the wider responsibility of clubs to maintain safe working environments, calling on administrators to reinforce education around consent, digital communication, and power dynamics.
